I dreamt of this once. Of being with you. Lying beside you, holding you as you slept. The stars picking out the highlights in your hair; your breath soft and even, gentle against my skin. One hand thrown across my chest, and your head resting in the crook of my arm. The feel of your breasts pressed against my side, your legs tangled with mine.

And the dream was nothing, compared to this.

This reality surpasses anything I could ever have imagined.

You once asked me if you were dreaming, claiming that this was too good to be real, too good to be true.

But that's where you were wrong. This is too good to be anything but real. Could you imagine this, the feeling of overwhelming perfection? Imagination is so limited, it cannot hope to encompass every thought, every feeling.

I wonder what you dream of now, as you shift against me in your sleep. A soft smile tugs at your lips, and I know then that your dreams are happy. And that is all I could ever hope for.

I continue to watch as you sleep. Sleep eludes me this night, for no reason I can pin down. But I am not bothered by this. Before you let me into your life, I would have laid awake, tossing and turning, cursing my inability to sleep. But now; now I am content to watch you sleep. Watch your face, stripped of makeup, pure and innocent; and free of the masks you wear when you are awake.

You are beautiful. Truly beautiful.

Time passes, the stars slip by outside the windows, and slowly you begin to wake.

It is a subtle transition, sliding gentle through the barriers of sleep, towards consciousness. A smile touches your lips and I know then that you are awake.

And then your eyes open, sleepy but happy. And you wriggle and push yourself up and touch your lips to mine.

It is a soft and tender kiss.

"Morning," you whisper, your lips brushing mine as they shape the words.

"Morning," I reply.

"I love you, Chakotay," you tell me then, kissing me again.

I hold you tighter and return your kiss. "I love you, Kathryn."

I dreamt of this once. Of being with you. Lying beside you, watching you wake, to be greeted with a good morning kiss.